Bridgend County Borough Council Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1 April 1996 |
| Leadership | |
Jake Morgan since July 2025[3] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 51 councillors |
 | |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | 5 years |
| Elections | |
| First-past-the-post | |
Last election | 5 May 2022 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Civic Offices, Angel Street,Bridgend, CF31 4WB | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Bridgend County Borough Council (Welsh:Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr) is the governing body forBridgend County Borough, one of theprincipal areas of Wales.
Bridgend County Borough and its council came into effect from 1 April 1996, following theLocal Government (Wales) Act 1994. Bridgend County Borough Council largely replacedOgwr Borough Council, thoughSt Brides Major,Ewenny andWick were transferred fromOgwr to theVale of Glamorgan.
In November 2014 the council voted to propose a merger with the neighbouringVale of Glamorgan Council, though this was rejected by theWelsh Government's Public Services Minister,Leighton Andrews, as not meeting the criteria to be able to proceed.[4]
The council has been under Labour majority control since the2022 election.
The first election to the council was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been as follows:[5]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1996–2004 | |
| No overall control | 2004–2012 | |
| Labour | 2012–2017 | |
| No overall control | 2017–2022 | |
| Labour | 2022–present | |
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Bridgend, with political leadership instead provided by theleader of the council. The leaders since 1996 have been:
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Jones[6][7] | Labour | 1 Apr 1996 | Jun 2004 | |
| Cheryl Green[7][8] | Liberal Democrats | Jun 2004 | May 2008 | |
| Mel Nott[9][10] | Labour | 14 May 2008 | 5 Oct 2016 | |
| Huw David[11][12] | Labour | 5 Oct 2016 | 15 May 2024 | |
| John Spanswick[2][13] | Labour | 15 May 2024 | ||
Following the2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:[14][15]
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 26 | |
| Independent | 22 | |
| Conservative | 1 | |
| Plaid Cymru | 1 | |
| Reform | 1 | |
| Total | 51 | |
Thirteen of the independent councillors form the "Bridgend County Independents" group. Plaid Cymru and seven of the independent councillors sit together as the "Democratic Alliance". The other two independent councillors do not belong to a group.[16] The next election is due in 2027.[15]
Since 2012, elections take place every five years.
| Year | Seats | Labour | Plaid Cymru | Liberal Democrats | Conservative | Others | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 48 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Labour majority control |
| 1999 | 54 | 41 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 5 | Labour majority control |
| 2004 | 54 | 22 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 11 | Liberal Democrat, Conservative, Independent coalition |
| 2008 | 54 | 27 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 9 | |
| 2012 | 54 | 39 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | Labour majority control |
| 2017 | 54 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 13 | |
| 2022 | 51 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 21 | Labour majority control |
Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in notes column.
Prior to the May 2008 elections Bridgend Council was run by a coalition of Liberal Democrat, Conservative, Plaid Cymru and Independent councillors. After the election the leadership returned to the Labour Party, led by councillorMel Nott.[17]
The council elections on 5 May 2017 saw Labour lose its majority control of the council with, for example, three of the fourBrackla seats being taken by the Conservatives from Labour. Keith Edwards and Ross Thomas, who'd been deselected by Labour for voting against the proposed local authority merger, won as Independents inMaesteg.[18]
In May 2022, Labour regained a majority and control of the council,[19] though their majority was reduced following theBridgend Central by-election on 11 August.[20]
The council is based at the Civic Offices on Angel Street inBridgend, on the banks of theRiver Ogmore (Welsh:Afon Ogwr). The building was built in 1986 for the council's predecessor, Ogwr Borough Council.[21]
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Prior to May 2022, the county borough was divided into 39electoral wards.
Since the2022 local elections the county borough has been divided into 28electoral wards electing 51 councillors.[22] Some communities also have their own elected council and community wards. The following table lists council wards, communities and associated community wards. Communities with acommunity council are indicated with a '*':
*= Communities which elect acommunity council
|
 Council elections in the preserved county ofMid Glamorgan | |
|---|---|
| Bridgend | |
| Merthyr Tydfil | |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | |
| Mid Glamorgan County Council | |
| Cynon Valley | |
| Ogwr | |
| Rhondda | |
| Rhymney Valley | |
| Taff-Ely | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
